Apparatus for manufacturing pneumatic tires for vehicles.



E. HOPKINSON. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURANG PNEUMATIC Tm ES FOR VEHICLES. APPUcMloN FILED MAR. 22

E. HOPKINSON. APPARATUS EUR MANUFACTURING PNEUMMIC TIRES Eon VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 191B. 1,289,774'

Patented Dec. 31, lJl

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ERNEST HOPKINSON,

or NEW Yoan, N. Y.

IPABATUS FOB MANUFACTURING PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR, VEHICLES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Driginal application led February 19, 1918, Serial No. 218,027. Divided and this application filed March 22, 1918. Serial No. 232,936.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST HoPmNsoN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. -f

This invention relates more particularly to apparatus for making tire casin s wherein is employed iuid pressure app led indirectly to the interior of the casing through the medium of an elastic wall for bringing the casing to substantial tire formation, and wherein is subsequently employed'fiuid pressure applied directly to the interior for givingcomplete formation to the casing and for supporting the casing during vulcanization.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 218,027, filed February 19, 1918.

Referrin to the drawings forming part of this speci cation y Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the core showing a casin built thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view siml ar to Fig. 1 but including the outer confining members; l

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectlonal view of a casing and a support therefor after it has been removed from the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the casing in its completed form within the finishing mold members.

The object of the invention is t'o provide an apparatus whereby a tire casin built on the usual rigid core may be stretc ed by an elastic expanding member and vulcanized in such stretched condition without subjecting the expanding member to the action of heat. This has been attempted here tofore but without success, so far as I know. I accomplish the desired object by stretch. ing the tire casing built on the core by means of fluid pressure exerted through an elastic member, such as a suitably formed rubber sheath or an inner tube, and holding the unvulcanized casing under such pressure until the fiber (woven or cord fabric) and the unvulcanized rubber are set at substantially the desired size. The present invention 1s confined to apparatus for accomplishing these steps in the method of manufacturing tires as disclosed in my before mentioned copending application, the preferred a paratus being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of t e drawings. For a clearer understanding of the scope of the present invention, the subsequent steps in the manufacture of the tire will also be described in the present application and for this purpose the remaining F icgs. 3 and 4 of the drawings are shown in or er that the method may be clearly understood and the importance of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 fully appreciated. After the tire has been treated as above briefly outlined, the elastic expansible member is then removed, a sealing member placed within the opening and between the edges of the casing, and either placed in a metal mold or a wrapping of canvas applied, fluid under pressure is introduced in the cavity of the casing in direct contact with the inner surface and the tire is vulcanized in such condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the casing built upon the core before any fluid pressure is applied. Fig. 2 shows the casing of Fi l supported on the interior elastic expansi le wall with in exterior confining members in readiness to be subject/ed to the action of the fluid pressure and exterior confining members to bring it to substantial tire size and for setting it in this form with an outer surface designed to locate the tread rubber in approximately the quantities desired at the tread and sides in the finished tire. Fig. 8 shows the casing after it has been removed from the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 and supported at its bead portions ready for the final treatment. Fig. 4 shows the casing 4completely formed within the finishing mold b f the direct application of interiorly appiied fluid pressure.

The tire casing 1 may be formed of plies of any desired material, such as cords, thread fabric, woven fabric, etc., which are assembled upon a support 2 in any well-known or preferred manner. The support may be 'nil of an desired shape, but in my preferred embo iment it is shown similar to the ring core of usual construction and is formed of sections in the usual manner in order that it. may be withdrawn from the casing. The support or core is provided with an expansible wall o-r cover 3 which is preferably formed of vulcanized rubber, and communication is maintained between the surface of the core and expansible rubber wall and the exterior or source of fluid supply by any desired means, as for instance the conduit 4 extending throiig the iuppcrt, and the tube 5 tapped into the cen.- duit which may beV similar to the usual type of valve used with inner tubes. 1

The core sections are held together by the oppositely disposed rings `li---fi which are suitably channeled to receive the flanges 7 extendin from theinnerdperiphery of' the core. T e rings are provi ed at their meeting faces with a sealing ring 8 of lead, rubber or other suitable material for preventing the escape of the fluid when applied to the elastic wall 3.

While I may rely u on the pressure of the tire edges against t e rubber wall 3 for producin a sealing thereof with the core, I prefer owever to provide the wall with circumferential beads and to extend it between the core and rings 6. The rings will thereby serve `to seal the interior of the wall 3 from the exterior and will also provide means for anchoring the wall to prevent any undesirable movement thereof during the building of the casing thereon, or durin the subsequent expanding action produce by the fluid pressure. y

The rings 6 are .preferablyn held together by means of clamps 9 whic are provided with flan s to engage recesses formed in the mem rs 6 and are arc-shape transversely to form when assembled, a circumference within the circumference of the rings 6, which is broken by a V-shaped space into which is inserted a wedge-shaped locking member 10.

The outer confining members may be of any desired form, in the present instance, I have shown them formed of two sections 11-11 which have walls 12 vfor engaging the casing, which are substantially the size of the finished tire, but only roughly conforming to its outer surface, and are provided with depressions, such as the depresa blocking out of the exterior rubber wall ofthe casing to properly locatejihe iailibernfor` tliuv canizing operation.

ner, but I prefer to `use the cl lar to the clamps 9, as and'easy means for securing the members together. The inner circumference of the confining members preferably engages the amps 14, simimeans of.

y in I l de eteriousL may be secured together in anyv desired ma they form .a ready isogm is substantially set. If I use air the casing i will preferably 4be kept within the outer confining means during the whol'e setting period, but if I use water it will only be necessary to admit the Water under high pressure to cause the casing to be firmly pressed against the outer confining members and then close the passage to the source of fluid pressure thus locking in the contained water which then will be practically a solid core of the exact size to which it is desired to set the casing. The outer confining members may be then removed and the casing left to stand on the core and locking parts until set. A

i In the further carrying out of my invention, and after the casing has been removed y from the' apparatus to which the present application Fis directed and which is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2, it is mountedhon a ring 15 provided 'with the sealing faces Iii'formed preferably of unvulcanized rubber, and thieftubel-i' for admittn .the fluid tothe interio of the casing w ich may be similar to t e usual type of valve used with inner tubes. The ring s supported on an expansible rim 18 having a wedge-shaped gap provided with V-shaped walls for receiving a wedge-shaped key 19 having correspondingly V-shaped walls for engaging the Walls of the ring. The key will operate'in an obvious manner to expand the rim to cause it to have a loose fit under the ring 15 and to compress the edges of the casingI to give them the exact diameter desired in the finished tire. The confining mold members 20 are then placed about the casing as thus supported and are lll secured together by the clamps 21which are held in p ace by the key 22, this lockingr means being similar to that shown in Fig. In sub3ecti-ng the casing to the action of fluid pressure applied through they medium of the elastic expansible wall, I may employv any fluid, such as for exam le air or water, but in applyqing the fluid irect to the casemp,Nw a, fluid that gill have no ect upon the rubber, and I have foundthat satisfactory results may be 1 attained by employing carbcn-dioxid, although steam or such gases as ammonia, nitrogen and the like may be used if desired.

In the preferred embodiment of my in- 1 cost of the tire.

I have found that a wall made of vul-,2 canized rubber may be used for this purpose for it will readily expand within the required limits and will automatically return to its normal position when the fluid is removed, thereby providing a wall that forms a ermanent part of the apparatus and capalile of repeated use for an almost indelinite period. Vulcanized rubber compound is especially suited for forming the wall as the apparatus is for use only in shaping and setting` the casing and is never subjected to a temperature that would injuriously affect it, as would be the case if the casing were subjected to the vulcanizing heat while supported by the rubber wall. -Furthermore, it is desirable that the exterior surface upon which the casing is built be as smooth as possible, and I have found that the4 rubber wall possesses the desired degree of smoothness for this purpose. Moreover,l the wall when composed' of rubber may be made somewhat smaller than Vthe core and thenstretched over the core thereby inceasiii 4the smooth continuity 1of surface desire It may be made of sullicient thickness and suitably compounded to provide the neces sary elasticity within the required limits and at the same time present sufficient rigidity to form a base upon which to build the casing. The rubber wall being perfectly elastic and yielding will readily permit the sec tions of the core t0 be removed from within it when the casing has been formed and set, and will likewise permit the Sections to be readily assembled within it in making ready for the next casing, or if desired, the sections may be lirst assembled and then the rubber covering stretched over'the core.

Moreover it is highly desirable that the `H sections of the core be accurately alined with each other so that there will be no irregularity at the joints which would tend to impart a Vcorrespondinar irregularity in the surface of the rubber covering. To therefore insure a positive aline- `ment of the sections, and to prevent any possible radial movement thereof, I prefer to have the rings 6 6 directly engage the sections as shown in Fig. 2, and I therefore when the fluid is app1ied. This manner of 75 y securing the wall, while it seals the rings 6 to the wall thereby preventing any escape of fluid that might pass out through the core sections from reaching the exterior, does not provide a seal between the engaged. faces of the rings and to prevent a leakage at this point, I provide ,the sealing ring 8, thereby insuring a fluid-tight chamber between the core and rubber coverin As many apparently widely di erent em- 85 bodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the specific form of embodiment of the invention herein described.

Having thus described my invention what. I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1.v Apparatus for use in shaping and setting` pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core, a rub'ber wall covering the core' for building a tire casing upon, and means foruintroducing fluid between the core and W8.

2. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises a' rigid core formed in sections, a rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, means for holding the sections together, and means for introducing fluid 106 between the core and wall.

3. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core, a detachable rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, 110 means for sealing the wall to the core, and means for introducing fluid between the core and Wall.

4. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises arrigid core formed in sections, means for sealing the sections from the exterior, a rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, and means for introducing uid between rthe core and wall. 5, Apparatus for Ause in shaping and settina,r pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core formed in Seicth means formed in sections for securing the sections .core for building a tire casing upon, and

means for introducing fluid between the core and wall.

6. Apparatus for use in shaping and setffor` gilding a t i s onding to the ting pneumatic Atire casiii'gs which comprises a rigid core formed in sections, a rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, means for securing the sections of the core together and for sealing the wall to the core, and means for introducing fluid between ?the core and wall.. j

7. Apparatus, for use in shaping and Setting pneumatic tirecaeings which comprises a r id core, a rbber wa l covering the `core i caing upon, exterior confining means for the -casin and means for introducing fluid between t e core and wall.

.8. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting neuinatc tire casin'gs which comprises a rigid core an fexpanisible wall cpvering the corg; for b'ilding ,a tire casing upon, exterior' coniin ng means having an inner wall reughl coin orming to the iinal configuration ci, the outer 4'surface of thefinished tire, and comprising depressed portions to roughly block out .thle gubber stock correa oniigurations prouced in he linishe article,and means for introduci Huid be ween the oo re and wall.

9. Appa atusfor use in" shping and settin pneu atie' tire alain w' icliy comprises a rigid core, a'rubbe'if cdvering the core for building a, tire cill o' ,exterior confiningmeaiisifti J hs :mili Ameans for 'introducingal ,twu Itmlie :core and wall. ,l

io. A ar 'tus in., in ,Landsatpp il nlh tapan l:wa coveringthe core ting pneunia chti a ri id core'arubbe y A for iii'lding retiree jing iipn, exterior confining ineens formed in sections, means for securing the sections together, and means fornintroducin'g fluid between the core and wa 11. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casin which com rises a rigid core, a wall eoveringthe core reely expansible under the iniiuence of fluid pressure and automatically returnable to normal position when the ressure is removed, and means for introduc ng fluid lbetween the core and wall.

12. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core formed in sections a rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, means for holding the sections against loutward movement, and means for introducing fluid between the core and wall.

13. Apparatmlmmfhaping and setting pneumatic tire caelngs which comprises a rigid core tormedin sections, a rubber wall covering thecore for buildin a tire casing upon, meitnwsaling the Wa to the core and for directly engaging the sections to hold them in alinement `and against outward movement, and means for introducing Huid between the core and wall.

14. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core formed in sections, rings in direct contact with the core for securing the sections thereof togetherkmeans for sealingextending lateral ortions, means for sea ing the rings toget er along engaging walls" of said portions, ineans for sealing the rings to the sections of the core, and means for introducing Huid between the core and casing.

16. Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire cainge which comprises a rigid core formed in sections, a rubber wall covering the core for building a tire casing upon, rings in` direct lcontact with said core for securin the sections thereof together and for sea ing the wall tov the core, means for sealing the rin together, and means for introducing iluidletween the core and wall. i; 4

17. Apparatus for useiii shaping and setting pneumatic tire casing! which comprises a rigid core formed in sections for bui ding a tire,casing upon, ringe in direct contact Ying a tire upon and havin a ortion projecting inwardly beyond t e tire supporting portion, means directl engagin oppositely disposed faces of t e inwar y projecting portion, said means being provided with inwardly extending portions extending laterally beyond the inner circumference of said sections, means for introducing fluid.i between the core and casing, and means for sealing the core to prevent the fluid from escaping between the adjacent walls of thel si'fl'luns,

19.V Apparatus for use in shaping and setting pneumatic tire casings which comprises a rigid core formed in sections for building and supporting'a tire upon and having a portion projecting inwardly beyond the tire supporting portion, means holding the sections together having a portion directly engaging the inwardly projecting portion of the core` .said holding means being disposed entirely inwardly beyond the tire supporting portion to louve said portion entirely unolmtructed to permit Suid holdin means to fum-tion while the tire is being built upon the core, means for introducing fluid between the core and casing, and means for sealing the core to prevent the Huid from esvnplng between the adjacent walls of the Ser'tlons.

10 Signed at N ew York, New York, this 14th day of March, 1918.

ERNEST HOPKINSON.

1918, upon the application of Ernest Hopkinson, of New York, N. Y.,'f0r an l improvement in Apparatus for Manufacturing Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows; In th i heading' to the specification, line fi, for "Serial No. 232,936" read Serial No. 223,936; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case-in the Patent Ofce.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A.. D., 1919.

[SEAL] M. H. CUULSTON,

Acfing Commissioner QfPaents. CI. 18-17.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,289,774. 

